New:
Slide Show on Privatization of Schools
A PRESENTATION BY LWV MIAMI-DADE
Miami-Dade did a series of presentations on Florida’s school choice study. Their approach was to consider the unmet needs of children from low income areas. The ability of charter and private, mostly religious schools to meet those needs are considered.
They discussed problems with the conflicting priorities for-profit charter management companies must face when serving ‘low-cost’ children rather than children whose needs are expensive to meet: e.g. ESE, ELL and students who struggle academically. The accountability system rewards schools whose students score well on state assessment tests. This makes charter admissions and dismissal policies subject to scrutiny.
The interrelationship between political and financial support has made conflict of interest concerns a public issue. The need to justify the inability of the private sector to overcome the achievement gap between students from low-income and higher income families has made the public more aware of the need for more efficient and equitable use of tax payer money.
This league’s approach to a discussion of school choice issues may be helpful for others who are planning similar presentations.
Privatization Bills in Florida
by Lucia Baez
The Miami-Dade League of Women Voters charter school study provides an in-depth examination of the population of students in below median income neighborhoods.
Are charters representing their own communities?
Do charters show significant academic improvement?
Are charters equitably admitting their students and increasing participation of needy students?
THE ANSWER TO EACH OF THESE QUESTIONS IS: NO!
Where Did The Money Lead?
by Pat Hall
While Pat and her team were following the money at CSUSA, she would call me with the latest episode. The process began to feel like a detective story. I asked her to write down the process so that others who were trying to search out facts could learn. Finding the data was step one, but getting the information publicized was an equal challenge. The impact was substantial. The school district added a new staff position to help monitor the charter schools. The local school board and its staff and attorney were involved. The Commander of the MacDill Air Force Base was involved. The Tampa Bay Times and the local CBS television station ran stories. Here’s the process..Continue reading
Charter School Explosion: Follow the Money
This is an unbelievable story. It is such an interesting one that we will tell it in two parts. Part I is an article that Pat Hall, LWV Education Chair for Hillsborough County wrote for La Gaceta, a Florida newspaper. The editor was intrigued when he met Pat, and he suggested she write a series for the paper. The other articles are posted in the Resources section of this blog. Part II will explain how she did it, and what happened next.Continue reading
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- League Members visit the office of Senator Marco Rubio
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- League Members wait to see Senator Bill Nelson
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- Education Team at the Department of Education
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